The BGN News Archive

March 24, 2014

This week of partying and stuff started early with Miss Lyn heading over to
Atwood's in Cambridge On Sunday 3/16 to meet up with Kenne Highland
and welcome Max Demata, Sonic Daze lead singer, and his family to Boston.
Preacher Jack was playing and AJ Wachtel was there for the
Noise.Kenny Kaiser made a cameo appearance to welcome Max, as did
Gee Julie. Max is a Gizmos fantatic and Boston music scene fanatic as
well! His band
Sonic Daze originally started out as a DMZ cover band! Tuesday Miss
Lyn met up with Kenne and Max along with Carl Biancucci to talk a little
more and see how the visit to Boston was going. Max interviewed us all for Italian
Radio. Max first heard about the whole Boston scene when he was young, in the
early 80s since it was actually a very big thing over in Italy. He found out
about the Gizmos through a friend named Lux Inferior and he's frankly
never been the same since. Max will be playing bass in the Gizmo's 2014
Reunion.

So, yeah, the Gizmos Reunion 2014 is a definite now. Krazee Ken Highland
and the other guys will be playing in Bloomington (june 12) & Indianapolis,
IN(June 13) and its looking like Cincinnati, OH and possibly Chicago. Please
go to the Kickstarter
page to donate to the cause to get these guys on planes and trains to head
to Bloomington to play!! Even $10 will help!! They know for sure that these
original Gizmos will be performing on the tour: Ken Highland, Eddie Flowers,
Ted Niemiec, and Rich Coffee ...and Max Demata on bass. You
can read more about it in this weeks Ken Highland At Large column as well.

Now later in the week....

We hit the Thursday show of Jonathan Richman's three day sold out stand
at the Middle East Up. He's done the same thing here before. It was an
early 8pm. show.

We got up front which was easy to do when we arrived. Rich Parsons and
Susan Rowe were right there with us arriving a few minutes later. Richie
said he saw Paul Robinson there too. (Paul later posted on FB that he
felt like he was 17 all over again!).
As Richman hopped on stage with drummer Tommy Larkin he looked out he
gave a nod and a hello to Richie. Then it was a nice long show (over an hour)
of Jonathan doing the Jonathan thing and you know what that is, if you like
that, and I do.

Most of the songs were extended with extra observations
and side stories that he thinks apply to the subject of the lyrics. In "Summer
Feeling" for example he adds some memories of his that illustrate a summer
day. There were lots of New England and Boston references as you
would expect. There were only a few Modern Lovers' songs. He concentrated
on newer material. He also sang a couple of songs in Spanish and one song he
sang in French. His voice and guitar playing seem made for the Spanish style
and his mouth contorted like a natural Frenchman in the French song - pretty
impressive stuff!

He did "Lesbian Bar", a longtime favorite. He took
that opportunity to do the Jonathan dance steps. "Interpretive dance" as Richie
predicted earlier! Jonathan often jettisoned the guitar to dance around or pick
up a maraca to help Larkin during a drum break or punctuate the beat
in a certain place.

He made a hilarious comment to someone in the audience who was using his smart
phone: "Whatcha watchin' on that TV? Anything good?" The crowd roared with laughter.
He followed that with a little diatribe against the "screens", meaning all televisions,
computers, smart phones and iPads. I think it was during the song "These
Bodies That Came To Cavort".

None of this is new to you who follow Richman. I saw him
in NYC a few years ago in a big hall. I enjoyed this much more, being just feet
away. I was able to see and hear the guitar work which is always free style
and lose.

Meanwhile it was very, very hot and steamy. I think I was
heading for a faint as my body heat was building up and the sweat was running
down my back. But the show ended just soon enough. I've had lots of uncomfortable
times in that rock sweat lodge. Outside I soon revived by gulping some water
along with an energy bar.

That's was needed because next up was heading for Great
Scotts where The Strypes were playing.

Eric Law sent out a link to a video of the group
months ago and that showed a too young to be believed quartet barreling through
"Can't Judge a Book by the Cover". By now they have gotten a bigger buzz
and Eric notified they were playing Great Scotts.

I did what I'm doing more and more - buying a ticket online. I wasn't wrong
because it sold out when I got there.

One thing you couldn't fail to see was that this was an old
crowd. We think we are cool picking up on the buzz but what about the college
crowd that is usually packing the club? I mean even the audience at the Jonathan
Richman gig had a large percent of young people in the mix. It seems like
this group maybe doesn't appeal to them.
All The Strypes' influences are from pre 1970. They
have an old rocking style down pat and its exciting stuff...to us I guess. The
current generation is not picking up on it, but all that seems academic as the
group starts to play.

The immediate impression is being hit by a thundering onslaught
of sound. It never stops the whole set. There are no slow songs or down time,
it's all fast paced songs with a very busy rhythm section. Everyone but everyone
mentions the Yardbirds' influence. It's pretty obvious and all encompassing.
They don't even deal with the slow things, psyche songs or eastern influenced
material just the blues and the 'rave up' style the group excelled at. Of course
early Yardbirds were like that too.
The crowd was eating all this up and I was too. It's too good.
The set was so exciting all the way through but then it got even better near
the end with Heart Of the City, Can't Judge a Book by the Cover
and the best yet- Rollin' and Tumblin'. There couldn't be more? Yes,
the encores were Rockaway Beach by the Ramones and the last song
Louie Louie.

What can you
say? A group of teenagers rocks the house with blues based material 30 years
older than them and encores with the national anthem to a club of people who
grew up with it but don't get to hear it live anymore. The cover was $10.00.
Best money spent this year.

On Saturday afternoon there was no tour bus, crowds, advance tickets
or hype connected with the all ages Midway gig. Inside we had a small
crowd with a few preteens, one baby and one dog, at the bar....yes, one dog at
the bar.

I've come to love the Saturday afternoon gigs. They are low key and
refreshingly free of pretension.

We thought we would check out Dead Cats Dead Rats
since that name keeps coming up. We never did get to see them. On stage was
Sleep Crimes, who were young. To me they are still getting it together.
I like that they were all hard working. They played some heavy Black Sabbath
style (and a Sabbath cover) then did a song based on a 50's template. The singer
had a cutting voice that was always in pitch. They had lots of humor in the
lyrics that I think bodes well if they develop.

We saw Endationa year and half ago. As I look back and read
what I said I can see it all applies again with one big difference, the
intensity has increased exponentially. The jerky, precise rhythms are even sharper.
I never even noticed this time that the guitar had four strings and for a guitar
nut like me not to register that is a testament to his ability to work with the limitation.

The main thing was the seething
emotional punch of the songs. The first song snapped me into attention and for
five songs I was lost in the music. I actually got chills during two songs.
The drummer raises himself out of his seat at times in an effort to hit as fast
and strong as he wants while the singer teeters backwards and forwards like
he's balancing on a skyscraper I-beam. The singing goes from soft to screaming
at top level. You think he must lose his voice before it's all over.

All the stage drama would mean nothing if the songs didn't back it up and
they do. Endation doesn't do a lot of gigs but have one coming up at
the new ARCH at Studio 52 in April 2nd. I wish these guys got
some of the attention that I saw Strypes getting but that's the way it
is. I'm glad we got to see this set. The singer Anthony Conley, who was
also in Faux Ox, has been working to keep the scene healthy with his
organization called Save
Our Scene. The recent period when the clubs seemed to be all closing pushed
him into action.

We talked to him afterward and he's a very interesting guy and soft spoken
which is a surprise after hearing him yell with emotion for forty five minutes.
He and Matt have been playing together for quite a few years, since they were
both 19. They've drifted into one or two different bands but always seem to
end up together again. And we're glad that's what's happening now with Endation!

This Thursday March 27th is the official Kenne Highland Birthday Bash at Tavern at the End of the World

Saturday March 29 at The Midway you can get a double dose of
Chris Brat (we hope his ribs have healed by then) plus these are some
damned good bands - its The Old Edison (In case you missed them last
week), The Warning Shots, The Black Cheers and Duck & Cover

The fundraiser gig for Veterans Advocacy Services was canceled due
to SNOW (what else is new this winter huh??) and has been rescheduled to 3/29/2014
at the Maynard Elks from 7:00 PM to 12:30 AM and now they have nabbed Special
guest Gary Soprano (Third Rail and Cadillac Heart) will be
joining Reddy Teddy for this important event.

Friday April 4th at The Regent Theater is the debut of Tim
Jackson's film "When Things
Go Wrong" which is all about Robin Lane there'll also be a
Q&A with Tim and Robin and live performances from Robin, The Chartbusters,
Barrence Whitfield, Ramona Silver, and others TBA . You can buy tix here
Regent Theater site

April 4th at The Midway are The New Limits, The Screw-Ups,
The Allstonians, The Copacetics, and DJ Nate EaseUp of Rude Sounds

Saturday April 5th there's a great show, one not to be missed really!,
at the Spotlight Tavern in Beverly with Two Saints, Greg Allen's Fringe
Religion, The Low Babies and Mike Woo's Raging Bone.

For you folks up in the Portland, ME scene the Bayside Bowl Uproar
happens Saturday April 12th - at Bayside Bowl see three of Portland's
most talented artists presenting some of their best original pop & rock
songs for your listening & dancing pleasure...Joe Brien, all girl
Portland band Tiger Bomb and the Johnny Cremains band

The Saturday April 19th at The Cantab gig has changed...Bittersweets
are out but instead you get The Darlings, The Funeral Barkers, FoxPass
and Emily Grogan...

Thursday April 24th The Koffin Kats are back at O'Brien's along
with Ten Foot Polecats,the Radiator Rattlers and Weak Week.

The 4th Annual HardCore Cotillion is Sunday April 27th (5:30-10PM) at The
President's Rock Club in Quincy...this is onwe killer show folks!! You got Kilslug,
Jerry's Kids, Taxi Driver, Barroom Heroes, and Keith "Fishead"
Knowlton - all for 8 bucks!!

At O'Brien's
on Saturday, May 10th we got a excellent show with Jittery Jack
(their Boston record release show) , Whiskey Kill, Johnny Carlevale and the
Rollin' Pins and DiabloGato

Also on Saturday May 10th is a crazy night at Club Bohemia at the
Cantab with The Hixxtravaganza - playing are Hixx of course
along with Scott Damgaard, Cadillac Heart and James Straight
And The Wide Stance

It's a killer weekend over at The Midway on Friday, May 16th
with The Other Girls, BrownBooze (featuring Rod van Stoli and
Jordan Valentine of BrownBoot!!! she's in town for a couple shows this
weekend -see below too) ) and Saturday, the 17th with The Hudson Falcons
, The Sprained Ankles, The Black Cheers and Spectacle

OK people mark your calendars for April 17th there's two cool things
that night:

You know it's summer when Cal Cali is back in town and he's back to
celebrate
his birthday on May 17th at The Tavern at the End of the World
with Asa Brebner, Richie Parsons Duo and Emily Grogan

Al Janick's St. Stanilaus Polka Party
on May 17th...this year its at Anthony's on Highland Ave sin Somerville
and he's got his Plastyczny Ser Orkestra consisting of world famous musicians
like , Kevin Hensleyski on Guitar, Matt Burkeski on Drums and
Shaun Wolf Wortiski on Bass...along with The Warsaw Marching Accordion
Army and the Horny Karkow Horns...and if that weren't enough he also has special
guests The Pierogi Triplets (Jordan Valentine & Jenny Dee)!!!

Thursday, May 22 at The Middle East Up........ The Woggles
with Muck and the Mires, Lyres - whoa what a show!!!!

The 2nd Annual Rat Beach Party is already well in the planning stages...its
set for September 14th& 15th and here's a list of bands so far: Saturday
night- Red Parrot Beach Bar starting at 7PM: Hardwired -- Heavy Weddle & Sweet
Release -- Severance (or Band To Be Announced) -- JetSet -- Billy Rath & The
Street Pirates -- Open Jam to close